Daily Bradlo 2/1/2019

1: Cory Booker Tells Colleagues Is Running for Congress and Wants Their Support

Democratic New Jersey Senator Cory Booker has been calling members of Congress and telling them that he wants to run for president and that he would like their support The Hill reported Wednesday night.

Several Congressional aides told The Hill that Booker has reached out to lawmakers asking them for their support. Representative Frederica Wilson confirmed that he left her a voicemail:

“He left me a voice message. I have to call him back.”

Booker’s run for president has been widely anticipated but strategists believe his decision to announce his campaign now means he’s trying to slow Sen. Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) momentum.

2: Border Security Negotiations Are a Waste of Time Trump Says

In an interview with The New York Times, President Trump said that the current negotiations on Capitol Hill are a ‘waste of time’ and dismissed investigations into him and his associates.

During his interview with the Times, Trump accused the Democrats of hurting the country by opposing a border wall and indicated that he may move ahead with plans to declare a national emergency:

“‘I think Nancy Pelosi is hurting our country very badly by doing what she’s doing and, ultimately, I think I’ve set the table very nicely,’ Mr. Trump said. He made no mention of closing the government again, a move that backfired on him, but instead suggested he plans to declare a national emergency to build the wall. ‘I’ve set the table,’ he said. ‘I’ve set the stage for doing what I’m going to do.”

Trump is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union of February, 5 before Congress where he is expected to once again make his case for a border wall.

Congressional negotiators had just 15 days left to hammer out a deal before funding for the government runs out again.